2019 - Weddings Australia, Wedding Dresses Invitations ......wedding season SUMMER 22% AUTUMN 37% WINTER 13% SPRING 28% The most popular day of the week to get married 19% of couples

2019A U S T R A L I A N W E D D I N G I N D U S T R Y R E P O R T

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If you’ve ever heard me speak at an industry event you’ll know that I’m a big fan of ‘nerdy topics’ like data. That’s because data like this can help show us where our businesses sit within the industry, and inspire us to get them to where we actually want them to be.

The data in this document can give you an insight into the minds of the millennial couples who will be getting married in 2019, 2020 and beyond. As well as specific data for major industry categories, we’ve also put together detailed insights and trends about what the average Australian couple looks like, what they like about suppliers, and what inspires them with the weddings that they are planning.

We hope you can use this valuable data to help build your products, services and businesses to understand the Australian couple and help make their wedding the perfect day it should be - not just for the couple, but for everyone.

Matt ButterworthCEO and FounderEasy Weddings

As one of our valued customers and partners,

I’m pleased to be able to share the results of

our 2019 Easy Weddings annual Australian

wedding survey with you.

S H A N N O N S T E N T P H O T O G R A P H Y

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Between September and October 2018 we surveyed more than 4,100 couples in our annual wedding survey.They shared with us everything from what theme and style they want for their big day, to how much they expected to spend, what services they booked, and how long they’re going to spend on their honeymoon.

We’ve put the results into Australia’s most in-depth wedding report ever, giving us the largest, most accurate and up-to-date picture of what modern Australian couples and the industry look like today.

W E D D I N G S I N AU ST R A L I A

T H E AV E R AG E AU ST R A L I A N C O U P L E

W E D D I N G T H E M E S ST Y L E S A N D C O LO U R S

T H E W E D D I N G B U Y I N G CYC L E

W E D D I N G CAT E G O RY I N S I G H TS A N D T R E N D S

G E N E R A L F E E D BAC K

D E ST I N AT I O N W E D D I N G S

H O N E Y M O O N S

A B O U T E A SY W E D D I N G S

I N D U ST RY E D U CAT I O N I N AU ST R A L I A

04060810123637384042

D E R E K B O G A R T P H O T O G R A P H Y

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Images: Zena Lythgo / Ferarri Formalwear & Bridal / Taronga Center / Flowers with LoveStonefield / Mad About Cakes / AL-RU Farm / Lala Design

*Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

$22,055

$26,895

$32,333 is the average cost of a wedding

is the average original wedding budget

is what couples believe their wedding will cost

3%

5%

4%

2% OF ALL WEDDINGSAVG WEDDING COST

$28,948

112,954The number of marriages across Australia in 2017*


$24,759


$29,024


$28,606


$36,082


$23,339


$24,600

QLD

WA

SA

NSW

ACT

TAS

NT


$33,891

VIC

Weddings in Australia

5

The most popular wedding season

SUMMER22%

AUTUMN37%

WINTER13%

SPRING28%

The most popular day of the week to get married

19% of couples choose their wedding date based on the season

14% choose a date that has special meaning to them

11% will marry on the date they can book their preferred wedding venue

March, June, August and November 2019 will experience more weddings as there are five Saturdays in each of these months.

The most popular dates for weddings in 2019

The most popular months to get married in 2019

9% 19% 8% 3% 8%11% 12% 4% 5% 10% 2%

JA N M AY S E PM A R J U L N OVF E B J U N O CTA P R AU G D E C

9%

2% 3% 14%3% 5% 63% 10%

T U E W E D T H U F R I SATM O N S U N

19 16 69 23 13 427 12 26

O CTM A R M A R M A R A P R A P RJA N O CTA P R M AY

On average, 9% of couples will spend more than $60,000 on their wedding day. 14% of couples in NSW will spend more than $60,000, followed by 10% in VIC, 7% in SA, 6% in WA and just 4% in QLD.*

*Limited data for TAS, ACT and NT to provide a reliable average

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90% are getting married for the first time and will marry in their home state

85% will have a wishing well at their wedding

59% will receive financial assistance from their parents

80% have attended at least 2 weddings over the past year

39% will fund the wedding on their own

H A V E 8 P E O P L E I N T H E I R W E D D I N G P A R T Y ( I N C L U D I N G T H E M S E LV E S )

Will invite 97 guests to their wedding - 12% won’t invite plus-ones

Average age of a bride

28

Average age of a groom

29

The average couple:

Have been engaged for 22 months

The average Australian couple

Images: Make Ones Way Photography

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The most popular dates for engagements in 2017/2018

89% will live together before getting married

60% of engagements are formed with the ring as a surprise

49% will buy a house before the wedding

24% of couples are choosing an engagement ring together

29% will already be parents or will be expecting on their big day

6% of engagements are agreed upon without a ring

Couples will spend an average

of $5,147 on the engagement ring

# A L L F O R L O V EIn the first 6 months following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia there were 3,149* same-sex marriages performed and legalised across the country. We predict that more than 5,500 same-sex weddings were performed in Australia by the end of 2018.

*Source: Births, Deaths and Marriages between Dec 9, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 31st

10th & 31st March

2nd June

1st January

14th February

DEC 17 FEB 18 JUN 18

JAN 18 MAR 18

Wedding guests say an average of $120 per couple is considered an appropriate amount to spend on a wedding gift. This increases to $220 per couple for close family or friends.

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The 10 most popular overall wedding themes

Wedding themes + colours

Top 5 voted primary wedding themes

› Rustic

› Classic/Traditional

› Romantic

› Garden/Outdoors

› Contemporary & Glamorous

Top 5 voted secondary wedding themes

› Romantic

› Garden/Outdoors

› Rustic

› Classic/Traditional

› Vintage

G A R D E N / O U T D O O R S

D I Y

R U S T I C

C O N T E M P O R A R Y & G L A M O R O U S

R O M A N T I C

C L A S S I C / T R A D I T I O N A L

B E A C H V I N YA R DB O H O C H I C

V I N TA G E

Images: Jave Lee Photography

Couples are now choosing elements from more than one theme or style to deck out their weddings. Luxe rustic, classic vintage and garden romantic weddings are all variations on traditional wedding themes.

Romantic, garden/outdoor, vintage, DIY and boho chic styles are all more popular as secondary wedding themes than they are as primary themes.

Images: Black Avenue Productions

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When looking at popular wedding colours, it’s important to note the difference between shades within colour groups. Gold is currently a much more popular metallic than silver, while elements of greenery are used more often in styling than the actual colour green.

Most popular primary colours

Most popular tertiary colours

Most popular secondary colours

NAVY BURGUNDY WHITE

NAVY WHITE GREENERY

WHITE GOLD GREENERY

Like wedding themes, couples are choosing more than one wedding colour for their big day. Two or even three colours paired together can often make up a couple’s wedding style, with white, navy, burgundy, blush and dusty rose being the most popular shades of colours across weddings overall.

Greenery and metallics are more popular as supplementary colours to the wedding theme than they are as the main focus.

The most popular wedding colour groups

Popular trends to watch out for

BLUES

BLUES

NEUTRALS

NEUTRALS

PINKS

PINKS

METALLICS

METALLICS PURPLES ORANGES YELLOWSGREENS

REDS

REDS

The most popular shades of colour in each group

WHITE NAVY BLUSH GREENERY GOLD LAVENDER PEACH DAFFODILBURGUNDY

G R E E N E R Y P E R S O N A L I S E D S I G N S

H A N G I N G I N S T A L L A T I O N SC I R C L E S

Supplier Credits: Left Top: Naomi Rose / Right Top: State of Elliott / Left Bottom: Soul Florals Studio (photography by Chantelle Stapleton Photography) / Right Bottom: Florium Creations

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Wedding buying cycle

Wedding Venues

S TA R T

F I N I S H

Wedding Videography

FlowerGirls

Wedding Photography

WeddingFlowers

Wedding Accommodation

Wedding Dress

Wedding HireWedding

Beauty Services

Wedding Cars

HoneymoonWedding

Accessories

Marriage Celebrant

WeddingMusic

Hens / BucksParty

Wedding Planner

Catering Lingerie

Formal Wear

Wedding Decorations

Wedding Invitations

Wedding Cakes

Wedding Stylists

BridesmaidsDresses

Hair & Makeup

Wedding Jewellery

Wedding Services

Photo Booth

Bomboniere

Wedding Shoes

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Wedding category insights & trends

Image: Ferndara Creative

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Wedding Venues

facts + figures › 93% of couples will hire a wedding venue.

› The average cost per head for a wedding venue is $157.

› 11% of couples will choose their wedding date based on when their venue of choice is available.

› Couples have an average of 97 guests attend their wedding. 80% will invite less than 150 people, while 48% of couples will invite less than 100.

Supplier Credit: Serafino McLaren Vale

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Where couples feel suppliers in this industry excel:

› Guests were well looked after while couples had photos taken

› The couple was taken through a personal experience and knew every team member by name

› Any changes made were done without hassle

The wedding venue is usually the first service a couple will book in their wedding planning process. The average number of guests attending weddings has remained the same over the last two years, meaning that couples are looking for quality service from their wedding venue to truly create a memorable experience for themselves and their guests. This includes venues focusing on personalisation, customer care and high quality food.

The most popular types of reception venues

Reception venue 36% / Winery 19%

Historic site 18% / Restaurant/hotel 18%

Golf club 9%

What couples believe is the most important part of their day

Wedding ceremony 46% / Wedding reception 34%

The guests we get to celebrate with 9%

The honeymoon 6% / Wedding dress 5%

$15,264The average cost of wedding venues

across Australia

$12,504$13,971

$12,348

QLDWA

ACT

$16,539

NSW

$15,964

VIC$10,722

TAS$14,821

SA

5%

Limited data for NT to provide a reliable average

Where couples feel suppliers in this industry could improve:

› Lack of communication between the venue and other vendors

› Lack of availability and communication from the venue to the couple

› Slow wait staff and meals not served on time

C U S T O M E R H A P P I N E S S 4 . 8 / 5

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› Gave tips on the best options based on weather conditions and time of year

› Alterations could be done in-store

› Range of styles to suit different budgets and body types

The wedding dress is often one of the first items a bride has visualised before she plans her wedding. While shopping they’re looking for a team that can make them feel comfortable, without feeling self-conscious or like they’re being judged. While fewer brides are opting to wear a veil, more are choosing to buy a dress than have a friend or family member make it.

We asked brides whether cost would matter if they found the perfect wedding dress

What brides plan on doing with the dress after the wedding

Store and save it 67% / Sell it 21%

Donate it 8% / Trash the dress 4%


› Experienced poor communication after the deposit had been made

› Lack of attention to detail on the completion of the dress

› Inappropriate comments about body shape

Wedding Dresses

$2,649The average cost of wedding dresses

across Australia

$2,179

$1,816

$2,650

QLD

ACT

NT

$2,544

WA

$2,837

NSW

$2,806

VIC$2,208

TAS$2,569

SA

4%


Yes, it would. I have a budget to stick to! 75%

No, it wouldn’t. I want that dress! 25%

94% of brides will purchase a wedding dress / 63% will wear a veil with their dress / 4% of brides say they or a family member will be making their wedding dress, while 20% of brides have purchased a pre-loved gown /

5% of brides say the wedding dress is the most important element of their wedding day

Supplier Credit: Grace Loves Lace

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› Advice based on experience of food choices and run times

› A range of packages for catering, drinks and wait staff

› Variety of exciting options for different dietary requirements

Food is becoming increasingly important for couples around Australia as they work to create more of a memorable dining experience for their guests. While DIY couples are the target market for catering services, additional catering options such as food trucks or dessert wagons are becoming increasingly popular across the board.


› Food was served cold, under or over cooked

› Agreed food quantities were not provided

› Ratio of staff to guests attending didn’t work well

Catering

$9,666The average cost of wedding catering

across Australia

$5,659

$6,650

QLD

ACT

$10,809

WA

$8,783

NSW

$11,947

VIC$6,204

SA

6%

Couples are designing their meals around

Set seating 63%

Guests sitting where they choose 37%

The most popular styles of catering

Sit down 52% / Buffet 29%

Finger food 15% / Other (ie food trucks) 4%

Fewer couples are choosing to offer gluten-free food options at their wedding / 42% will have gluten-free options available for guests while 58% will choose against gluten-free food at their reception

Limited data for NT to provide a reliable average / Supplier Credit: Mint and Mingle

$7,125

TAS

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Marriage Celebrants

facts + figures › 76% of marriages in Australia are performed by a civil celebrant

› 38% of couples will hire a female celebrant and 35% will hire a male celebrant, while 27% of couples have no preference

› 23% of couples will have a religious or church wedding ceremony

Supplier Credit: Russ Macumber Celebrant

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› They had a genuine interest in the couple and their story

› Walked the couple through the process step by step and helped calm nerves

› Included personalised references that were meaningful to the couple

The ceremony is becoming increasingly important to couples, with more couples seeing it as the most important part of their wedding day. Couples are seeking professional marriage celebrants who can deliver a personalised and interesting ceremony to make their wedding day unique. They’re also focusing more on the celebrant, with a drop in the number of couples asking a friend or family member to do a reading during the ceremony.


› No assistance in the lead up to the day, such as rehearsals

› Pushy about following tradition

› The couple had to constantly chase the celebrant for information ahead of the ceremony

$721The average cost of marriage celebrants

across Australia

$612$642

$602

$840

QLDWA

ACT

NT

$774

NSW

$796

VIC$508

TAS$599

SA

1%

What type of ceremoniesare couples having?

Outdoor 45% / Religious/church 23%Beach 14% / Chapel 6% / Other 12%

Why couples are choosing their celebrant

We liked their approach to ceremonies 53% / We were referred by a friend or relative 21% / Their

pricing suited our budget 17% / Great reviews 9%


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› Easy booking and confirmation process

› Unobtrusive and not distracting on the day

› Coordinated with the venue to get setup room decor and drone shots

Couples are opting for videographers to make sure that they don’t miss anything important during their day. This has also resulted in couples choosing to hire their videographers for longer. A videographer can capture the feeling and atmosphere of a wedding more than what can be captured with photographs. Couples are looking for natural videographers who make them feel like they’re not being filmed for the whole day.

What couples think is the most important to research before hiring a supplier

Reviews 55% / Photo gallery 22% Website 14% / Social media 9%

The amount of time couples will hire a videographer for

All day - from start to finish 56%For the ceremony and part of the reception 37%

Just for the ceremony 7%


› Delays in having the final product returned

› Important moments such as the first dance or speeches missed

› Only focused on the couple and didn’t incorporate family or important elements from the rest of the day

Videography

$2,702The average cost of wedding videography

across Australia

$2,263

$2,073

QLD

ACT

$2,267

WA

$3,280

NSW

$2,598

VIC$3,225

TAS$2,412

SA

49% of couples will have someone video their wedding / 86% of those will opt for a professional videographer while 14% will ask a family member or friend to film their wedding / 51% of couples will not hire a videographer

for their wedding

Limited data for NT to provide a reliable average / Supplier Credit: On Three Photography and Cinematic


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› Range of items to suit different themes and styles

› Good advice on items that work well together

› Flexible with changes to requirements

DIY couples are becoming increasingly focused on the style and setup of their wedding day and are using wedding hire companies to help them execute this. However, with outdoor ceremonies becoming more popular couples are also using wedding hire companies for items such as chairs, tables or arbours before heading to a set-up reception elsewhere.

The number of couples hiring items for their wedding

We will be hiring items 49%We won’t be hiring anything 51%

What couples will hire for their wedding

Everything! 40% / Decor items 27%Seating/tables/bars etc 25% / A marquee 8%


› Items arrived or picked up later than agreed upon, causing issues with other suppliers

› Items not received or arriving damaged

› Items not set up as requested

Wedding Hire

$1,531The average cost of wedding hire

across Australia

$1,751

QLD

$1,937

WA

$1,410

NSW

$1,348

VIC$1,776

SA

3%

The cost of wedding hire is slightly up this year following a significant drop during 2016 and 2017 / Decor items are the most popular element to hire as more couples focus on the aesthetic of their wedding / Couples are

also hiring items such as crockery and cutlery for their big day

Limited data for ACT, TAS and NT to provide a reliable average / Supplier Credit: Vintage Patina


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Wedding Photography

facts + figures › 99% of couples will have a photographer at their wedding

› 91% will hire a professional while another 8% will have a friend or family member take pictures for them

› 53% of couples will also purchase a wedding album from their photographer

Supplier Credit: Xtraordinary Photography

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› Making posed images feel natural

› Acting as a calming presence when the couple was stressed on the day

› Providing a good mix of classic and unique images for the couple


› The photos took longer than expected to be returned to the couple

› The photographer needed to be directed on the day as they were distracted by other elements

› The photographer didn’t deliver as many images as expected

Are couples having engagement photo shoots?

Yes 33% No 53%

We’re considering it 14%

The most popular stylesof wedding photography

Candid and natural 47% / Traditional and posed 5% Fantasy and highly-edited 3%

A mix of candid and posed 45%

Photography is arguably one of the most important elements of the wedding to a couple as photographers are hired by more couples than any other category. Couples want their photographer to be able to direct them for the best pictures, while also keeping them calm during the day. Not only do they want to get the perfect shots for their big day, but additional images such as drone shots are valued highly!

$2,963The average cost of wedding photography

across Australia

$2,514$2,772

$2,753

QLDWA

ACT

$3,501

NSW

$2,914

VIC$2,604

SA

$2,898

NT

$2,876

TAS


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› Able to adapt the music to the timing of the day or night

› Bands knew a variety of songs from different genres

› Couples were able to attend showcases or performances to get a feel for the music

The right wedding music can not only set the mood for intimate moments such as the ceremony and speeches, but it can also keep the celebrations going after the official proceedings are over! Couples love musicians who can work off the vibe of the crowd and offer a personalised service they can showcase to the couple before they book.

The post popular stylesof music at weddings

Pop 42% / Rock 15% / Classical 15%Indie/folk 14% / Country 14%

The types of music entertainmentcouples will hire for their wedding

A DJ! 65%An awesome band! 35%


› Timing for dances and speeches was off

› Didn’t play requested songs

› Agencies assigned a DJ or band a few days prior so the service was not personal

Wedding Music

$1,651The average cost of wedding music

across Australia

$1,397

$1,787

QLD

ACT

$1,448

WA

$1,891

NSW

$1,716

VIC$1,260

TAS$1,338

SA

5%

93% of couples will hire a band or a DJ for their wedding / 2% of couples will hire entertainers for their weddings, while 2% will hire specific dancers / The most popular wedding song of 2018/19 is Perfect by Ed Sheeran, with

more than 8% of all couples playing it as part of their official proceedings!

Limited data for NT to provide a reliable average / Supplier Credit: Paper Hearts


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› Coordinating suit colours with samples of wedding or bridesmaid dresses

› Able to choose suits based on taste and trends

› Can coordinate fittings around different schedules

As with previous years, more grooms are opting for a casual or more relaxed feel for their wedding day than traditional formal wear. However, more grooms are also opting for their own personalised piece, with coloured and patterned suit jackets helping grooms stand out in their own right. We’re also seeing female same-sex couples and mixed bridal parties opting for fitted styled suits as opposed to traditional dresses.


› Missed little details, such as cufflinks, which were originally agreed upon

› Couple received the final product too close to the day

› Tried to get the groom to change the colour that he had picked

Formal Wear

$1,449The average cost of formal wear

across Australia

$1,266

$1,410

QLD

ACT

$943

WA

$1,588

NSW

$1,558

VIC$1,564

SA

3%

Do couples trust customer reviewsmore than personal recommendations?

Yes 23%We trust both 53%

No 24%

How grooms are purchasing / hiringtheir formal wear

We are hiring a suit 23%We’re having a suit custom made 27%

We’ll buy it off the rack 50%

81% of couples will choose items from an official formal wear provider / More grooms are opting for their own personalised suit and service, with a 27% increase in the number of grooms buying a custom made suit for their

wedding day

Limited data for TAS and NT to provide a reliable average / Supplier Credit: Ferarri Formalwear and Bridal


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Wedding Cars

facts + figures › 57% of couples will choose the transport for their wedding together

› In heterosexual couples, more brides are now choosing the wedding transport than grooms, with 22% of brides making the decision compared with 21% of grooms

Supplier Credit: Enrik Limousines / Image: Vladimir Photography

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Couples are looking for wedding transport that will stand out and help them arrive at their big day in style. They’re also choosing cars specifically for photographic purposes, making cleanliness, timing and attention-to-detail important factors for wedding car providers. More couples are choosing to hire just one car shared between the couple for their day than they did last year, however they’re spending more on this hire.

$1,295The average cost of wedding cars

across Australia

$918$1,121

$1,275

QLDWA

ACT

$1,524

NSW

$1,290VIC$1,098

SA

12%

Limited data for TAS and NT to provide a reliable average


› Friendly but unobtrusive drivers

› Clean and well-presented vehicles

› Flexibility when it comes to pickups and drop offs


› Didn’t know the best direction to the wedding venue and got lost on the way

› Details such as ribbons were not included on the day as discussed

The number of cars couples will hire for their day

1 car 46% / 2 cars 33% 3 cars 10% / 4+ cars 11%

The most popular styles of wedding cars

Vintage 30% / Classic 23% / Limousines 19%Modern 18% / Hot rod 5% / Sports 5%


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› Artificial or fake items such as flowers or foam cake tiers looked real

› Took the time to understand the logistics of the space they were working with

› Used photos of items set up from real weddings as realistic inspiration

Trends and styles will always influence which decorative items are popular in each season, however we are seeing that more couples are choosing to glam up their wedding with decorations based on inspiration from social platforms such as Instagram or Pinterest. Personalised signs and greenery are the most popular trends when it comes to decorations.

Are couples hiring furniture orstyling props for their weddings?

Yes 41%

No 59%

How couples are being influenced ontheir wedding decorations or themes

We had a theme in mind 63%Our wedding planner 2% / Online photo galleries 25%

Advice from our wedding venue 6%Suggestions from friends and family 4%


› No follow up once deposits were paid

› Quality of product didn’t match the quoted price

› Disorganised when it came to drop off and pick up

Decorations

$1,529The average cost of wedding decorations across Australia

$1,563

$1,800

QLD

ACT

$1,755

WA

$1,456

NSW

$1,424

VIC$1,440

SA

8%

93% of all couples will have decorations at their wedding / 26% of couples will be making their own decorations to match the style of their day / Live floral features or greenery will be used by more than 60% of couples

Limited data for TAS and NT to provide a reliable average / Supplier Credit: Take Me Hire


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› Able to create something with ideas from photos

› Dresses adaptable to be worn again for different occasions

› Various sizes available

While the average number of people in a wedding party has decreased, couples are still opting for quality dresses when it comes to their bridesmaids. The number of couples spending $800+ on each dress has increased, while those spending between $200 and $800 has decreased since 2017.


› Made to measure dresses didn’t fit

› Colours weren’t consistent across all the dresses

› Dresses were made offshore and details were not 100% as requested

Bridesmaid Dresses

$814The average cost of bridesmaid

dresses across Australia

$559

$453

QLD

ACT

$678

WA

$1,012

NSW

$833

VIC$911

SA

82% of couples will purchase bridesmaid dresses / Another 6% will have a friend or family member make the bridesmaid dresses / 46% of couples have between 7 and 10 people in their wedding party / Around 9% of

wedding parties will feature either a bridesman or a groomsmaid

Limited data for NT to provide a reliable average / Supplier Credit: The Gown House

$930

TAS

How much eachbridesmaid dress will cost

$0 - $200 65% / $200 - $400 28%$400 - $800 4% / $800+ 3%

Who will be acting asmaid of honor

Friend 49% / Sister 36%Relative 8% / Sister-in-law 7%


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Wedding Invitations

facts + figures › 61% of couples will purchase invitations for their wedding day

› 36% of couples will make the wedding invitations themselves

› Fewer couples are opting to make their own invites, with a 7% drop since 2017

Supplier Credit: Lala Design

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› Design across all stationery was consistent

› Any changes or mistakes were fixed without further issues

› Answers were prompt and suppliers were in constant communication


› Couples were charged for changes to the original draft

› Online orders were poor quality

› Long delivery times

Where did you get yourwedding invitations?

From a professional invitation business 61%I made them myself! 36%

We didn’t have paper invitations 3%

How couples are sending outsave the date cards

We’re sending physical cards 36% We’re sending magnets 15%

We’re sending emails 9%We’re using social media 9%

We won’t send out save the dates 31%

Mixed metallics, letterpress and foil features in stationery designs are popular with couples at the moment as they work to showcase the standards of professionally printed invitations in contrast with simplistic DIY services. Acrylic and wooden stationery are also very popular, with menus, table settings and table seating all styled and planned with the same themes and trends.

$772The average cost of wedding invitations

across Australia

$633$933

QLDWA

$833

NSW

$807

VIC$518

SA

Limited data for ACT, TAS and NT to provide a reliable average

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› Able to provide options for those with allergies

› Helped couples if they were unsure what to ask for

› Able to provide a variety of products including bouquets, buttonholes etc.

Flowers and greenery still remain a central part of wedding styling and decor. More couples are opting for hanging installations to make use of the fifth wall at their wedding, couples are also alternating between artificial and real flowers to get the look they want while popular choices might be out of season. The most popular blooms include roses, peonies, baby’s breath and proteas.

Will you be using real or artificial flowers?

Real 57%Artificial 20%

Both 23%

How much couples are spending on their flowers

$0 - $500 44%$500 - $1000 27%

$1000+ 29%


› Flowers were not fresh

› Matching bouquets were different sizes

› Theming was not consistent with floral decorations and bouquets

Wedding Flowers

$1,618The average cost of wedding flowers

across Australia

$1,062

$813

QLD

ACT

$1,455

WA

$2,047

NSW

$1,652

VIC$1,423

SA

5%

78% of couples will purchase flowers from a wedding supplier for their day / 20% of couples will be organising their flowers themselves / Just 2% of couples won’t have any flowers at all

Supplier Credit: Thrive Flowers & Events

$993

NT

$693

TAS


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› Provided a guest book as an inclusion

› Have a USB or CD with all the images from the booth

› Kindly encouraged reluctant guests to have fun and have a go

Couples may love candid photography for their wedding photos but they also love having some fun in front of a posed photo booth. While we are seeing fewer couples hiring photo booths, their average spend remains consistent. Popular types of photo booths include traditional booths, mirror booths and live printers for Instagram photos.

Are couples hiring photo boothsfor other events?

Bridal showers/kitchen teas 7%Engagement parties 10%

Not hiring for other events 83%

How many couples are hiringphoto booths for their wedding

Will hire 33% Will DIY 7%

Won’t hire 60%


› Operator agreed to stay but left after setup

› Name misspelt on photostrips and final products

› Poor quality photos

Photo Booths

$896The average cost of photo booth

hire across Australia

$869

$950

QLD

ACT

$788

WA

$1,035

NSW

$863

VIC$717

SA

40% of all couples will have some form of photo booth at their wedding / There is a 15% decrease in couples hiring photo booths between this year and 2017. However, they are still spending more on hiring these booths /

17% of couples will have a photo booth for another wedding-related event

Limited data for NT to provide a reliable average / Supplier Credit: Little Pixel Box

$700

TAS


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Wedding Cakes

facts + figures › 70% of couples will purchase a wedding cake for their wedding day

› 25% of couples will make their own, while 5% won’t have a cake at all

› 55% of couples who have a cake will serve it in dessert style portions, while 45% will serve their cake coffee-sized

Supplier Credit: Sweet Stylin / Image: Shannon Stent Photography

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› Variety of flavours to choose from

› Able to have different flavours for different tiers

› Worked directly with florist or stylist to coordinate cake decorations


› Cake tasting was not provided before purchase

› Flavour was not the same as what was agreed upon

› Decoration changes made without consulting the couple

How many tiers will wedding cakes have ?

1 9%

2 31%

3 48%

4+ 12%

The most popular flavour of wedding cake

Mud cake/chocolate or vanilla 69%

Other (such as lemon) 21%

Traditional fruit cake 5%

Flourless/gluten free 5%

Couples are choosing a wedding cake that can also act as part of their decorations and aesthetic, which is why cake styling is becoming increasingly important. Bigger is better, and couples want to be able to mix and match their flavours for different tastes. Current cake trends to watch out for include rough icing, moody designs, and even letter cakes in the shape of the couple’s initials.

$537The average cost of wedding cakes

across Australia

$511$581

QLDWA

$533

NSW

$553

VIC$467

SA

6%

$461

$429

ACT

NT

$498

TAS


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› Provided multiple trials

› Able to create the desired look from inspiration photos

› Able to provide educated advice without disregarding the wishes of the bride

The 2018 royal wedding has definitely had an impact on hair and makeup trends, with more brides continuing down the more natural path of looking like their best selves for their wedding. Although fewer brides are booking in hair and makeup trials, they are happy when an artist can replicate the look they want from online inspiration and give valuable advice.

Are brides having a hair or makeup trialbefore the wedding day?

Yes 77%No 23%

The most popular typesof accessories

Jewellery 35% / Hair accessories 32%Garter 19% / Clutch 14%


› Didn’t provide a trial

› Didn’t cater for different hair types

› Ran out of time to do hair and/or makeup properly

Hair & Makeup

$740The average cost of hair & makeup

across Australia

$653

$479

QLD

ACT

$606

WA

$861

NSW

$777

VIC$542

SA

2%

85% of brides will hire a professional hair and/or makeup artist for their wedding day / 15% of brides said they or a family member will be doing their hair and/or makeup / There has been an 8% decrease in the number of

brides having a hair and/or makeup trial before their wedding day since 2017

Supplier Credit: Felicia Sarwono Makeup Art

$550

NT

$663

TAS


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› Items/ingredients sourced locally

› Items/ingredients environmentally friendly

› Prompt service with short notice

Bomboniere is usually one of the last items in the wedding planning chain but is still being used by most couples to thank their guests for attending the wedding. Couples are becoming more ethical and environmentally friendly with their favours, opting for gifts such as succulents or charity donations on behalf of guests.

How couples are sourcing their bomboniere

Will purchase 45% / Will make their own 26%Made by a friend or family member 6%

Won’t have any 23%

How much couples are spending on bomboniere per guest

$1 - $5 62%$5 - $10 28%

$10+ 10%


› Items took a long time to be delivered

› Names were spelled incorrectly

› Items delivered were not the same quality as samples shown

Bomboniere

$464The average cost of bomboniere

across Australia

$331

$400

QLD

ACT

$318

WA

$588

NSW

$476

VIC$416

SA

77% of couples will have some form of bomboniere or wedding favour for their guests / The number of couples spending between $5 and $10 on each favour has increased since last year, while less couples are spending between $1 and $5 on each guest / Despite guest numbers going down the amount spent on bomboniere is

increasing

Limited data for TAS and NT to provide a reliable average / Supplier Credit: Foxtails


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HoneymoonDestinations

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Most couples will still take their honeymoon immediately after the wedding and will be gone for an average of 15 days. However, couples are changing the ways that honeymoons have been taken in the past, with delayed honeymoons, minimoons, buddymoons and even babymoons all becoming new trends with millennial couples.

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Q U E E N S L A N D

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M A L D I V E S

B A L I

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Within 1 week of the wedding 42%

2 - 4 weeks after the wedding 8%

4 - 6 weeks after the wedding 3%

6+ weeks after the wedding 17%

At the same time as our destination wedding 1%

We won’t take a honeymoon 5%

We’re undecided 24%

1 week 29%

1 - 2 weeks 41%

2 - 3 weeks 15%

3 - 4 weeks 4%

4+ weeks 11%

How long couples are spendingon their honeymoons

The most popular times for couplesto take their honeymoons

The average cost of a honeymoon is $7,307

Fewer couples are travelling overseas for their honeymoons than in previous years, with Queensland beating out previously popular destinations such as Fiji and Bali for the top spot.

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DestinationWeddings

› While 90% of couples are getting married in their home state or territory, another 10% of couples are opting for a destination wedding.

› 8% of couples are getting married in another Australian state, an increase of 10% between 2017 and 2018.

› Meanwhile, destination weddings outside of Australia are becoming less popular, with just 2% of couples travelling overseas for their wedding.

› Just 1% of couples will take their honeymoon at the same time as their destination wedding.

The most popular overseas wedding

destinations are

N Z F I J I

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D A N E V A N S P H O T O G R A P H Y

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General feedbackfor suppliers

4.9 Photography

4.9 Marriage Celebrant

4.9 Wedding Cars

4.9 Wedding Flowers

4.9 Hair and Makeup

4.9 Photo Booths

4.9 Dress Designers

4.9 Wedding Cakes

4.9 Bomboniere

4.9 Wedding Invitations

4.9 Decorations

4.8 Wedding Venues

4.8 Wedding Music

4.8 Videography

4.8 Wedding Hire

4.8 Wedding Jewellery

4.8 Destination Weddings

4.8 Wedding Stylists

4.8 Caterers

4.8 Beauty Services

4.8 Wedding Planners

4.8 Wedding Dresses

4.8 Wedding Lingerie

4.7 Hens Nights and Bucks Parties

4.7 Bridesmaid Dresses

4.7 Wedding Services

4.7 Wedding Accessories

4.7 Flower Girl Dresses

4.7 Formal Wear

4.6 Wedding Shoes

4.6 Accommodation

4.5 Honeymoons

Customer happiness for every category:

The biggest influencers for couples when they are purchasing or hiring any wedding supplier, regardless of category, are:

› The price

› Their responsiveness - the average response time for an Australian supplier is 6 hours industry wide

› Their personality

› Reviews from previous customers - 10% not influenced

› Their website/storefront

› Their location

› Their social media - 19% said social media had no influence

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About Easy Weddings

We help make wedding planning easy for the majority of Australian couples every year with our range of planning tools as well as qualified directory, featuring suppliers such as yourself.

For the past 19 years we’ve worked to make Easy Weddings Australia’s number one website when it comes to both wedding planning and advertising. We’re continually innovating with new planning tools and inspiration for our couples, such as our revamped wishing well feature, $10,000 competition, updates to the my supplier tool and couples dashboard, and our brand new app. Likewise we’ve been working to connect couples with thousands of Aussie wedding suppliers using new technology such as VR tours and our WedCRM.

Towards the end of 2018 Easy Weddings underwent a branding change so that we can further reflect what Australian couples want and expect when it comes to planning their weddings, as well as the quality and service our suppliers can expect from Australia’s leading wedding website.

We look forward to evolving and innovating with you across the next 12 months.

80% of Australian couples who are

getting married trust Easy Weddings to help

with their wedding planning process.

D A N E V A N S P H O T O G R A P H Y

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Our mission is to help Australian wedding businesses grow. Whether you’re just starting out, want to book more weddings in a year, or are looking to expand your business to new locations, we want to be able to help.

We have several ranges of listings suitable to businesses of every size, while our range of locations and categories means that we can help find the right fit for your business to make sure you’re seen by as many couples planning their weddings as possible.

All of our Easy Weddings partners receive exclusive access to industry education articles, newsletters, webinars, seminars, industry events and our specially designed WedCRM. WedCRM is our wedding-specific customer relationship management program and app that can send enquiry notifications directly to your mobile. Login online or download the app on iPhone or Android.

wedcrm.com

SpotlightTo see what more we can do for your business take a look at our exclusive Spotlight listings. Chat to us about how you can ensure you’re one of the top three vendors seen by couples in your region every time they open the page.

Award BadgesWe currently have new badges available in WedCRM to embed into your website. These include badges for our 5 star suppliers, listed clients, and top vendors.

Pro-EducationGet access to our passionate customer service team and tips, strategies and expertise through our Pro-Education Centre. And don’t forget to join our exclusive network of wedding suppliers on Facebook.

easyweddings.com.au/pro-education

facebook.com/groups/easyweddingsproedu

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B L A C K A V E N U E P R O D U C T I O N S

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We’ve been ramping up our industry education here at Easy Weddings to help bring as much knowledge and education about Australia’s wedding industry to you.

During 2018 we introduced a webinar series and ongoing live video content to share tips and tricks from marketing to selling your business to Australian couples. We will be working to bring even more valuable educational content to you across this year.

In addition to this, and running our state-focused events across 2019, this year we’ll be running our first ever national event. Easy Weddings Evolve will be Australia’s largest wedding business growth conference and the first national event specifically focused on growing your wedding business.

We’ve managed to grow some attendees’ businesses by up to 400% by just three hours of learning at our roaming education events around the country. Now, with the help of world-class speakers, local experts, and two full days of education we’re excited to teach you how to run a world class wedding business, own your competition and more.

Evolve by Easy WeddingsG R O W I N S P I R E S U C C E E D

Speakers Include:Alan BergCertified Speaking Professional

Tammy BartonFounder of MyBudget

Amanda GoreAuthor and Motivational Speaker

When: 18-19 June 2019Where: Four Seasons , Sydney

Book your tickets ateasyweddings.com.au/evolve

V E N U E : F O U R S E A S O N S H O T E L , S Y D N E Y

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Results driven website design

An all new Easy Weddings app experience is here

Download from the App Store

easyweddings.com.au/webdesign

P A C K A G E O P T I O N S T O S U I T A L L B U D G E T S

Contact Easy Weddings to discuss your website requirements

› We specialise in designing user experiences that transform visitors into leads

› We create beautiful online stores and strategically crafted shopping experiences

› Choose from 5000+ wedding suppliers

› Browse wedding venues, dresses, cakes, photographer portfolios & more!

› Contact suppliers for quotes from within the app

› Add suppliers to your favourites list

› Read supplier reviews

› We take care of all your on-page SEO – ensuring you get the most from your organic search

› We shape positive user experience on mobile and tablet devices

We’re always here to help. To discuss how these exclusive insights could help you grow your business

contact us through any of the following. We look forward to chatting with you!

1800 155 122

[email protected]

18 Miles St, Mulgrave VIC 3170

easyweddings.com.au

Documents

2019 - Weddings Australia, Wedding Dresses Invitations ......wedding season SUMMER 22% AUTUMN 37% WINTER 13% SPRING 28% The most popular day of the week to get married 19% of couples